mpany it is hunted for the sake of its skin, which
is, when blanched during the winter's cold, scarcely inferior to that of
the celebrated sable.

When pursued and overtaken, it stands at bay, exhibiting its teeth,
erecting its hair, arching its back, and hissing like a cat. It forms
its burrows in the ground, the female producing, a litter of from four
to seven. Like other animals of its tribe, it emits a peculiar musky
smell.

THE OTTER.

In winter, along the steep banks of the frozen streams, smooth and
shining tracks may be readily detected. They are produced by otters,
which have a curious habit of sliding downwards for their amusement--
much as human beings are accustomed to do in Canada in their toboggans.
To do this, they lie on their bellies, with their fore-legs bent
backwards, and giving themselves an impetus with their hind-legs, down
they glide, at a swift rate, upon the ice. This sport they will
continue for some time, climbing up again to the top of the bank, and
repeating the process over and over again. They are also accustomed to
pass through the woods from lake to lake, making a direct track in the
snow. These tracks are easily known. Then comes a broad trail, as if
made by a cart-wheel. This is formed by the animal throwing itself on
its belly, and thus sliding along over the surface for several yards.
These places are called "otter rubs."

There are two species of otter in North America--one on the east, and
the other on the Pacific slope--differing slightly from each other. The
former is considerably larger than that of the Old World, measuring,
from the nose to the tip of the tail, sometimes from four and a half to
five feet. Like most other water animals, it possesses two sorts of
hair: the one is long and shining, and of a rich brown colour, except on
the throat, which is of a dusky white; the other is very fine and soft,
lying next the skin, and serving to protect it from the extremes of heat
and cold. It has excessively sharp, short teeth, which enable it to
hold fast the fish, on which it chiefly feeds. Its body is elongated
and much flattened, and the tail, which is of great length, is also flat
and broad. The legs are short and strong, and so loosely jointed that
it can turn them in any direction when swimming.

The habitations of otters are formed in the banks of rivers or lakes,
and are not altogether of an artificial character, as they prefer
occupying any deserted hol